Hydraulic vehicle lift

Abstract

A hydraulically operated vertical vehicle lift for working under the vehicle or for storing one vehicle over a second vehicle. The vehicle lift utilizes four large U-shaped columns which house most of the moving parts. Particularly, cables traverse through the columns and around pulleys attached to cross members supporting the vehicle ramps. A hydraulic cylinder under a ramp pulls the cables around the pulleys causing the cross members and ramps to elevate. The orientation of the cables and pulleys direct the force generated while elevating and suspending a vehicle straight down from the internal top center of each column. This directional force provides a stable vehicle lift and the columns and ramps shield the moving parts from operator contact and protect the parts from exposure thereby increasing their useful life of the lift.

1. A vehicle lift comprising:
 a) a pair of spaced-apart ramps; 
 b) at least two cross members attached to and supporting the pair of spaced-apart ramps, each of the at least two cross members further having at least two opposed end blocks and at least one pulley attached to each end block; 
 c) four spaced-apart U-shaped columns, each of the U-shaped columns having a base, a top cap, located opposite the base, and a cross member receiver slot wherein the end blocks on the cross members are slidingly received in the slot; 
 d) a hydraulic cylinder; and, 
 e) a plurality of cables, each cable fixed at one end substantially in the center of the top cap of one of the U-shaped columns and the opposite end to the hydraulic cylinder, so that when the hydraulic cylinder is actuated, upward and downward movement of the cross members and the spaced-apart ramps occurs. 
 
   
   
     2. The vehicle lift of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs fixed in at least one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns. 
   
   
     3. The vehicle lift of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism fixed to at least one of the end blocks of the at least two cross members, adjacent the at least one U-shaped column having a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs fixed therein, the locking mechanism further comprising a locking latch linked to a mechanical lever whereby actuation of the mechanical lever causes the locking latch to engage on of the plurality of spaced apart locking tabs in the U-shaped column, thereby preventing vertical movement of the cross member within the cross member receiver slot. 
   
   
     4. The vehicle lift of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one tire block removably mounted on at least one of the spaced-apart ramps. 
   
   
     5. The vehicle lift of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one drip tray removably mounted between the pair of spaced apart ramps. 
   
   
     6. The vehicle lift of  claim 2 , further comprising a caster mounted adjacent the base of each of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns. 
   
   
     7. The vehicle lift of  claim 2  further comprising a flexible slotted dust cover mounted over the cross member receiver slot of each of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns. 
   
   
     8. The vehicle lift of  claim 2 , further comprising an automatic shut off switch slidably mounted within at least one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns, substantially adjacent the cable therein such that when during vertical movement, the end block of the cross member contacts the automatic shut off switch, the vertical movement stops. 
   
   
     9. A vehicle lift, comprising:
 a) four spaced-apart U-shaped columns, each having a base and a top cap; 
 b) a pair of ramps; 
 c) at least two cross members supporting the pair of ramps, each of the at least two cross members having opposing ends slidably received and held within a cross member receiver slot in one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns; 
 d) a hydraulic cylinder; 
 e) at least one cable having a securing end fastened substantially at the center position of the top cap of one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns and further having a pulling end attached to the hydraulic cylinder; and 
 wherein the at least one cable is maintained within the U-shaped column and is routed through a pulley on the end of one of the at least two cross members received within the U-shaped column, such that when operated, the hydraulic cylinder pulls said at least one cable through the pulley thereby raising the at least two cross members and the pair of ramps. 
 
   
   
     10. The vehicle lift of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs fixed in at least one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns. 
   
   
     11. The vehicle lift of  claim 10 , further comprising an automatic shut off switch slidably mounted within at least one of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns, substantially adjacent the cable therein such that when during vertical movement, the end block of the cross member contacts the automatic shut off switch, the vertical movement stops. 
   
   
     12. The vehicle lift of  claim 9 , further comprising a locking mechanism fixed to at least one of the end blocks of the at least two cross members, adjacent the at least one U-shaped column having a plurality of spaced-apart locking tabs fixed therein, the locking mechanism further comprising a locking latch linked to a mechanical lever whereby actuation of the mechanical lever causes the locking latch to engage on of the plurality of spaced apart locking tabs in the U-shaped column, thereby preventing vertical movement of the cross member within the cross member receiver slot. 
   
   
     13. The vehicle lift of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one tire block removably mounted on at least one of the spaced-apart ramps. 
   
   
     14. The vehicle lift of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one drip tray removably mounted between the pair of spaced apart ramps. 
   
   
     15. The vehicle lift of  claim 9 , further comprising a caster mounted adjacent the base of each of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns. 
   
   
     16. The vehicle lift of  claim 9  further comprising a flexible slotted dust cover mounted over the cross member receiver slot of each of the four spaced-apart U-shaped columns.